Music Biz Drops Concert Camera Bans

As camera phones held aloft become as common as lighters in the air used to be at rock-and-roll concerts, the music industry is starting to give in to reality and drop camera bans. Most bands are allowed to choose their own photo policy, and a growing number are letting fans capture gigs with any kind of camera they want. Others, including U2, allow point-and-shoot cameras only, and reserve digital SLRs for the professionals, reports CNET News.

"It's an acknowledgment of the way technology is changing, and how much digital cameras have become a part of our lives," said the creative director for Nine Inch Nails, which has an open-camera policy. "Not only is it impossible to keep cameras out of shows, but it's fighting an increasingly uphill battle against what is now a cultural norm: people freely documenting their lives and sharing it with friends and family."
(More camera stories.)